Jessy to officiate in Bangladesh-Netherlands T20 series

The three-match T20 series against the Netherlands will not only act as preparation for Bangladesh ahead of the Asia Cup but also hold special importance for women’s umpiring. For the first time in an international series featuring the national men’s team, female umpire Shathira Jakir Jessy will be included in the officiating panel. She will serve as a TV umpire rather than a field umpire, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed in a press release.

Jessy has prior experience officiating in events like the Women’s T20 World Cup, the Asia Cup T20, and the U19 Women’s Asia Cup. She has also been selected to umpire in the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup, and this series will serve as valuable preparation for that role.

Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, head of BCB’s umpires’ committee, said, “Jessy will be going to the World Cup. We wanted to give her an opportunity as a TV umpire in a high-pressure men’s game. Our female umpires have made significant progress over the past two to two-and-a-half years and deserve greater support.”

The three-match T20 series will begin on August 30 at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. In the first match, Tanvir Ahmed and Morshed Ali Khan will serve as on-field umpires, while Jessy will be the fourth umpire and Masudur Rahman Mukul will act as the third umpire. In the second match, Jessy will take on the role of third umpire, with Mukul and Tanvir officiating on-field. In the third and final match on September 3, Mukul and Morshed will be the on-field umpires, with Jessy once again serving as the fourth umpire.